When applying for jobs, the days of simply forwarding our resumes and expecting to hear back from employers or recruiters are long gone. Now, we are required to write comprehensive, compelling cover letters that depict our worth and why we are the right person for the job. However, even if our credentials are perfect for the position, getting across the wrong message in a cover may jeopardise our chances of securing an interview, which is why it’s vital to get it right. But how do we master the art of the cover letter? It’s a tough balance to strike, though here are a few steps that will help.
1) Show, Don’t Tell2>
When writing cover letters, we are often reminded to write about how we match the job description of the position we are applying for. One trap that must be avoided however is simply listing our skills and experience and telling the reader why we’re the right person. It’s a good idea to expand on your resume; however just from reading your resume the employer can already get a good idea of what you can do. The cover letter provides you with the chance to give examples of when you used your skills and experience to successfully complete a task. You’ll find that through this method your letter will not only be easier to write, but will also read a whole lot better. Use examples to highlight your ability in an anecdotal manner rather than simply listing your skills.
2) Room for Improvement
This can directly follow the section of the cover letter where you detail why you’re the right person for the job. While you may fit or even excel the requirements for the role you’re applying for, it’s also important to establish your willingness to learn and improve upon your current skill set. Humility and humbleness are seen as a plus when applying for a job, and a note or two about how you see yourself professionally developing in the company can go down very well in the eyes of the employer, who are always looking out for keen learners. One possible way of showing a willingness to learn could be through the mentioning of certain extra-curricular courses you may have completed in the past. Try adding some online courses you’ve completed on platforms like Now Learning for instance, this will be a great testament to your attitude towards personal improvement.
3) Personal Touch
Aside from your professional credentials, employers are also interested in garnering clues as to what kind of person you are. It’s often a good idea to finish the letter with a short paragraph that perhaps lists a few personal interests and endeavours. Although you may want to impress, try to avoid sounding too grandiose and renaissance man-esque when describing your life pursuits. If you like to spend your free time taking walks in the countryside or have a preference to Japanese food, then put it down; you’ll sound real and it also offers a welcome respite from the weight of the rest of the cover letter. Above all, employers are generally interested in understanding the person who is applying for the job.
4) Keep It Short
In all honesty, there are quite a lot of things you could potentially feature in your cover letter, and understandably so. However, it’s key to keep things short, snappy and concise. Think of it from the eyes of the employer: they have to sieve through countless applications and upon opening yours perhaps the last thing they want to see is a two-page essay. Try and find a way to condense all you want to convey onto a single page, say between 500 to 600 words or so.
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